We’ve all had that client. Or that candidate.

The family whose expectations changed overnight. The nanny who ghosted the morning of the first day. The placement that seemed perfect until it spectacularly unraveled. The text message that made you think, “There’s no way this is actually happening.”

If you’ve ever wished you could gather a room full of agency owners and ask, “What would you do?”, this is that session.

Join Kristen Szapka (A Nanny Match), Rebecca Pearcy (Windsor House Nannies), Sianan Tierney (Placement Solutions), and Heidi Imbus (Nannies by the Bay) for an interactive, no-holds-barred panel where real agency owners unpack the most challenging client and candidate situations they’ve encountered and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

This won’t be a lecture. It’s a conversation.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own stories, questions, and “I can’t believe this happened” moments for live discussion and problem-solving. Together, we’ll workshop difficult scenarios, compare approaches, and explore how experienced agency owners would handle everything from ghosting and boundary violations to unrealistic expectations, contract disputes, confidentiality concerns, and placements that unexpectedly go off the rails.

You’ll leave with practical communication strategies, stronger policies, fresh perspectives, and the confidence to navigate difficult situations with professionalism, empathy, and authority.

Sianan Tierney is part-owner of Placement Solutions, Australia’s oldest nanny and household staffing agency. With almost four decades operating in the sector, Placement Solutions has supported families, nannies, and the broader early childhood community across Australia. As General Manager, Sianan leads the client services division, overseeing sales, recruitment, client relationship management, and operational strategy. She is known for her practical, people-focused approach to workforce and care solutions. With a background as a qualified lawyer, Sianan brings a strong compliance and regulatory perspective to her work and is a committed advocate for ethical and lawful employment practices across the sector. She has served on the board of the Australian Home Childcare Association for close to eight years, advocating for government policy that supports flexible care models and improved outcomes for vulnerable and marginalised children and families.